Blink Mini Camera Blinking Red? (Quick Solutions!)

The Blink mini camera blinking red means that the product has lost connection to the internet.

If the red light persists for an unusually long time, it’s essential to take action and address it properly.

Ignoring it could lead to security complications or missed events.

Let’s start with the most important first!

How to Connect Blink Mini Camera to Wi-Fi Correctly?

1. Download and install the latest version of the Blink app.
2. Sign in to your existing account or create a registration.
3. Optional: Add your Sync Module if you’ve bought one.
4. Ensure the Blink camera is turned on and receiving A/C.
5. Tap the “Add Device” button within the Blink application.
6. Select “Blink Mini Camera” from the product selection tab.
7. Locate and scan the camera’s QR code using the phone.
8. After that, add the camera to an existing security system.
9. Pick a compatible 2.4 GHz network during the Wi-FI setup.
10. Enter the correct password and wait for Blink to connect.

During the setup, it’s important to verify two things:

• You’re connecting the Blink camera to the correct SSID.
• The password for your Wi-Fi network is spelled correctly.

If the setup was successful, your camera’s indicators should turn solid green and blinking blue.

If the Wi-Fi setup fails, the camera will start blinking red.

Blink Mini Camera Blinking Red – Here’s How to Fix It

Note: Check if the red light is temporarily by waiting for at least 2–3 minutes before starting with the steps.

1. Unplug the Mini Camera

You should start with a simple power reset of the camera to determine if the problem is temporary or non-lasting.

The Blink Mini camera might have run into a software fault that can be solved after a temporary suspension of the power supply.

1.1 What Power Supply Does Blink Mini Use?

The Blink Mini camera is considered to be an indoor surveillance camera and requires a consistent A/C adapter connection.

The device uses a 5V/1A USB cable to plug with a compatible adapter and draw electricity from an outlet.

1.2 How to Power Reset Blink Mini Camera?

To power cycle the Blink Mini camera, unplug the USB cable from the adapter and then the adapter.

Wait for roughly 60 seconds, rebuild the camera’s power supply equipment, and plug it back into the outlet. 

Note: Do not use any third-party equipment to connect your camera’s adapter, and check if the electrical outlet is functional. 

2. Relocate the Camera or Router

If the Blink Mini camera refuses to connect at all, then it almost certainly means that there’s a distance-related issue, especially if you’re using the camera outdoors. 

Blink products are only compatible with the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequency, and regardless of its lightweight signal ability to travel through solid surfaces, there could still be interference.

So, it depends on whether you prefer to relocate the camera or the network router.

2.1 Tips for Correct Blink Camera Placement

• Ensure the Blink camera is a maximum of two to three walls away if it’s in an indoor setup.
• Ensure the camera is a maximum of 50–70 feet away from the router if it’s in an outdoor setup.

2.2 Tips for Correct Router Placement

Even if the camera is physically close to the router, the router’s positioning and installation are also important.

Ensure the router is in an open and even central position in the room, away from enclosed spaces and other wireless devices.

There mustn’t be any wireless devices operating on the same frequency as the router in a 10–20 feet range to avoid wireless interference. 

3. Reboot the Network Router

Proceed with a simple power cycle of the network router (and/or modem) to address potential Wi-Fi issues.

All you have to do is unplug the router’s power adapter from both ends and wait for 40–50 seconds until the electrical supply drains.

In the meantime, double-check if all of the router’s cables are securely connected, especially the ISP’s data cable.

Based on your installation, the data cable could be Optical, Coaxial, Ethernet, or even telephone if you use it in a landline setup.

4. Improve the Signal Strength

As clarified, the red light on Blink Mini camera means that either the Blink Mini camera cannot connect at all or that it has lost connection as a result of insufficient Wi-Fi strength.

We’re inclined to assume that your router’s Wi-Fi connection strength may be weak or fluctuating, leading to your Blink Mini camera’s persistent coverage losses.

Before we try steps to increase the speed, check your network’s current download and upload speed in “Mbps” through Ookla’s reliable speedtest.net. 

You can also check the Blink camera’s current connection status by going to the Blink app → “More” → “Device Settings” → “General Settings” → “Network” → “Connection to Wi-Fi”.

Tip: Check the network’s download and upload values after each solution we’re about to present.

Step #1 Disconnect Unused Devices

Start by reducing the overall bandwidth load on your network by manually disconnecting phones, computers, laptops, and other devices from the network that you no longer use.

Each device occupies a spot on the DHCP list of the network, which leads to accelerated usage.

Step #2 Disrupt High-Data Processes

Temporarily prevent all devices that are connected to your network from downloading or uploading.

This should help, especially if the total download or upload speed of your network is under 3–4 Mbps. 

Step #3 Change your Wi-Fi’s Channel

To change the Wi-Fi channel of your network’s 2.4 GHz thread, you will require access to the network router’s web GUI.

Find the default gateway’s IP value by typing “ipconfig” through a connected PC or laptop.

Then, paste it into your browser to access the login page. Use admin/admin or admin/password to sign in.

Navigate to “Wireless” → “Wireless Network Settings” and adjust the channel value for the router’s 2.4 GHz frequency.

Step #4 Install a Wireless Repeater

An affordable option to increase your network router’s Wi-Fi coverage is to set up a wireless repeater.

Purchase a regular Wi-Fi extender from an online store such as Amazon, then install it in an outlet that’s within 20–30 feet from the router.

Finally, use the extender’s mobile app to set it up and connect it to your network (you will be guided through the setup).

5. Disable your Device’s VPN

Activating a VPN on your smartphone during the Blink Mini camera’s setup could disrupt the identification of your product’s name and IP address.

It’s important to ensure your device uses its real and current location, both while using the Blink app and while assigning the camera.

Your phone could have one of two VPNs:

VPN #1 The Built-In VPN

Every smartphone nowadays has a built-in VPN service that can be activated on demand.

The VPN’s configuration panel can typically be found within the “Settings” app and can be manually set to “Off” by pressing the “Disconnect” or “Unlink” button.

VPN #2 Third-Party VPN

External VPN services include software installed through your phone’s app store or a third-party website.

If you have installed such a service, you can either temporarily set it to “Off” through the user interface or uninstall the service entirely during the camera’s setup. 

6. Revert Your Network to Single-Band

Setting the dual-band of your Wi-Fi network may sometimes be a knife with two blades.

Among the benefits are ease of connection, high-data Wi-Fi network for the compatible devices, and network segmentation, but some of the downsides may include IP and signal congestion.

That’s why we recommend disabling the multi-threading of your network and then connecting your Blink Mini camera to the Wi-Fi.

Note: Only proceed with this step if you have a dual-band router (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz Wi-Fi)!

How to Disable “Band-Steering” On a Network?

Following the instructions in step #4, access the web GUI of your router, then navigate to the “Network” tab.

Search for a “Band Steering” or “Multi-Thread” option in the settings and set it to “Off”.

You will be prompted to confirm the dual-band’s deactivation on your network.

Keep in mind that all devices paired to the 5 GHz thread of your network will be disconnected, and the Wi-Fi will no longer be discoverable.

Note: You can re-enable your network’s dual-band after determining if it prevents your camera from connecting. 

7. Reinstall the Blink Mobile App

We recommend a clean reinstallation of the Blink app if your camera is still unable to connect.

Corrupt data, a software glitch, or issues with the cache could all contribute to various problems with the Blink Mini camera.

7.1 How to Uninstall the Blink App?

• To uninstall the Blink app on your iPhone or Android, hold the app’s icon until the options appear, then tap on “Uninstall app” or “Remove this app”.

7.2 How to Reinstall the Blink App?

• Launch the Google Play or App Store on your smartphone, type “Blink” in the search field, then download the first result. 

During the reinstallation, verify that the Blink app’s automatic updates are set to “On”, and sign back into your Blink user account. 

8. Reset the Camera & Router

A software fault is among the leading reasons why the Blink Mini camera blinking red, and the solution in most cases is to perform a factory reset.

Whether it’s a fault with your network or the camera, restoring both devices to factory defaults should resolve the blinking red light.

Warning: The factory reset will erase all settings on both your Blink camera and router.

8.1 How to Factory Reset Blink Camera?

Locate the small reset pinhole on the back of the camera after removing it from the stand.

Use a pin or a paper clip to press the “Reset” button inside the pinhole and hold it for ~12 seconds to start the reset. 

8.2 How to Factory Reset Network Router?

Every router has a small reset button on the back, but you could also use the web GUI we’ve introduced in step #4.

During the reset, all of your router’s LEDs could go off several times in a row.

Don’t unplug or interact with the device in any way until the procedure is finalized.